Fleshwater’s new album 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky (Closed Casket Activities) displays the lessons the band learned from playing arenas with a more anthemic nineties Rock sound than what was heard on “We’re Not Here to Be Loved.” It shoved singer Marisa Shirar into the spotlight, forcing her to own her identity as a frontwoman. The mix of this album is more radio-friendly with the vocals out front, as the guitar swirls around them. Shirar’s singing style is more Rock-oriented on this album, belting the choruses out as the guitar sits back in the mix. The atmospheric opener is the strongest song on the front end of the album, as the singles dial back the more shoegazing elements. Though it depends on what you want from music in this regard; if you are a fan of Paramore, the more alternative rock-leaning sound might be more to your liking.  

At this juncture, you can hear Marisa’s voice sound stronger on this album. “Be Your Best” has some more experimental elements in play, which is something this band needs to lean into more in order to stand out from the pack. The drummer from These Pianos Are Teeth plays on this album and makes some interesting choices in how the drums were recorded to give her the room to sit back and sing with more feeling but less forced intensity.

“Jerome Town” gets into a harder rocking with its staccato riffing, with Anthony Dido‘s vocals leading off this song. His relaxed approach is what the song needed. At the beginning of “Sundown,” it opens with a more Ethel Cain-like folk before kicking into the nineties alternative feel. If their first album is what hooked you into these guys, this album will require a few listens to readjust to the changes, as “Raging Storm” follows a similar nineties formula, but has a more punk-infused drive. “Silverine” is more of an interlude than a song that stands on its own two feet. “Endless Sky” finds Anthony’s vocals leading off with a hefty bass line, bringing the backbone to balance things out.

There is some great songwriting here that those of us who miss the golden days of late nineties Emo can celebrate, as it takes you back to a time before Myspace turned the genre into cock rock. Even with the slight nods the band gives to Nu-Metal and Shoegaze, along the way. Further testament to the fact that the nineties revival has been here all along, but we have been too distracted to notice. 

Buy the album here:
https://fleshwater.lnk.to/2000yt

8 / 10
WIL CIFER
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